Establishment of a connection, alternately via a telephone network or the internet

ABSTRACT

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method according to which a connection is alternately established via a telecommunications network ( 11 ) or the internet ( 34 ). A user (TlnB) can thus be reached better.

[0001] The invention relates to a method for setting up a connection, in which a switching device switches, between subscribers, data transmitted in a first transmission network according to a first transmission method. A first terminal is connected to the switching device via a connection route. A second terminal, by means of which data is transmitted in a second data transmission network according to a second transmission method which differs from the first transmission method, is connected via the same connection route.

[0002] The one transmission network is, for example, a telephone network for transmitting analog or digital voice data in voice channels, such as is known from the public telephone network. However, transmission networks in which the data to be transmitted is transmitted in data packets are also known. An example of such a transmission network is the Internet, in which voice data is transmitted in data packets according to a protocol which is also referred to as Voice over Internet Protocol, abbreviated to VoIP.

[0003] Copper double conductors of the telephone network are used, for example, as the connection route for the first terminal and the second terminal. For the broadband transmission of data on copper double conductors there are various technologies, which are combined under the term xDSL technologies (X Digital Subscriber Line). For example there are HDSL (High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line), ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) and VDSL (Very High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line). Specifically for Internet applications, the Universal ADSL standard has been defined, abbreviated to UADSL or UDSL. With this technology, a personal computer can be installed directly on the copper double conductor without the use of what is referred to as a splitter. The transmission speeds are 1.5 megabit/second.

[0004] The object of the invention is to specify, for the operation of two terminals [lacuna] various transmission networks on a connection route, a simple method which permits the use of additional performance functions. In this context, a switching device and associated programs are also to be specified.

[0005] The object relating to the method is achieved by a method having the method steps specified in patent claim 1. Developments are given in the subclaims.

[0006] The invention is based on the idea that a called subscriber can often be reached simultaneously via two transmission networks. As in the abovementioned xDSL technologies, two transmission networks are used in order to be able to utilize the advantages of both transmission networks. Two transmission networks are both, for example, also in a transition phase from the use of the one transmission network to the use of the other transmission network alongside the first one. The fact that the same subscriber can simultaneously be reached via two terminals provides the possibility of offering the subscriber new performance functions and/or of increasing the accessibility to the subscriber further.

[0007] In the method according to the invention, during the processing of a request for the setting up of a connection to the first terminal, a control unit of the switching device determines a connection destination via which the second terminal can be reached in the second transmission network. During the processing of the request, a connection is set up to the second terminal using the connection destination. By including the second terminal in the processing of a request, which has actually been generated for the first terminal, the request can be processed in an intra-network fashion. The second terminal, for example, is thus included if the first terminal is seized or its function is faulty. As a result, the accessibility to the subscriber with whom the two terminals connected via the same connection route are associated is increased. During the processing of the request, there is an additional transmission possibility in comparison with the processing of the request in only one data transmission network. The additional transmission possibility can be used as an alternative or in addition to the transmission possibility which has already been used until now.

[0008] The method according to the invention remains concealed from the caller. Only what is referred to as the destination switching device at the called subscriber's end is involved in the method according to the invention. Consequently, it is not necessary to change protocols for transmitting signaling messages between the determining devices. It is also not necessary to send any additional messages between the switching devices.

[0009] The method according to the invention is used for different transmission services, for example for the transmission of voice data, for the transmission of facsimile data or the transmission of user files. If, for example, a telephone device of the called subscriber is seized, the method according to the invention can be used for nevertheless setting up a further connection to the subscriber via the Internet. Likewise, when a fax device is seized it is possible to call upon a service provider computer (server) which nevertheless receives the incoming fax for the subscriber.

[0010] In one development, using the connection to the second terminal, an enquiry is made as to whether a connection is to be set up and/or via which transmission network the connection is to be set up. If the second terminal has, for example, better presentation possibilities for the enquiry than the first terminal, the enquiry can be made in a more user-friendly way than when the first terminal is used for the enquiry. In this way, telephones, for example, become difficult to operate owing to the large number of functional keys. On the other hand, an enquiry can easily be presented in a dialog box on the screen of a computer.

[0011] In another development, using the connection to the second terminal, a connection is set up to the terminal which has generated the request. This requires the second terminal to be suitable for processing the service which the request relates to. A voice connection to a remote subscriber can be set up, for example, both via the telephone network and with the involvement of the Internet.

[0012] In another development, the control unit firstly checks whether a condition for the involvement of the second terminal is fulfilled. The connection to the second terminal is set up only if the condition is fulfilled. For example, the seizure state of the first terminal is interrogated. The second terminal is involved in the processing of the request only if this first terminal is seized. Methods in which the control unit involves the second terminal if the subscriber does not respond at the first terminal are also applied.

[0013] Although the first terminal and second terminal are arranged on the same connection route and thus spatially near to one another, there may be situations in which the subscriber does not respond at the first terminal but wishes to set up a connection at the second terminal. Such a case is, for example, a defective first terminal.

[0014] In one development of the method according to the invention, the one transmission network is a through-switching transmission network for voice transmission, for example the digital ISDN network (Integrated Services Network) with analog and digital terminals. The other transmission network is a network, for example the Internet or an Intranet, in which data is transmitted in data packets. The transmission network is changed either during the processing of a request in the through-switching transmission network or during the processing of a request in the transmission network which switches data packets. There is often a telephone network connection and an Internet connection at the subscribers' premises.

[0015] The method according to the invention or its developments are used in particular in the case of connection routes on which data is transmitted according to xDSL technologies, in particular with methods using the UADSL technology. The large number of such connection routes justifies the expenditure in the switching device for the execution of the method.

[0016] The object specified above is also achieved by means of a switching device having the features specified in patent claim 7. The switching device according to the invention contains a first connection unit for connection to the first transmission network and a second transmission unit for connecting the first terminal of the subscriber. Furthermore, the switching device contains a control unit which executes the method steps defined by the method according to the invention or its developments. The above-mentioned technical effects thus also apply to the switching device.

[0017] In one development of the switching device according to the invention, the second connection unit is also used to connect the second terminal. The common connection route for the first terminal and the second terminal leads to the switching device. Within the connection unit, the data relating to the first terminal and the second terminal are separated from one another, for example using a frequency filter, as is known from the abovementioned UADSL technology.

[0018] In one embodiment, the switching device also contains a network interworking unit which connects the first data transmission network and the second transmission network. In order to actuate the network interworking unit, a protocol which is defined for the switching device can be used. It is thus signaled only over a short distance.

[0019] If the switching device also contains a network access unit for the access by the second terminal to the second transmission network, a protocol which is defined for the switching device can also be used for the signaling between network access unit and the switching device. As a result, the setting up of the switching device according to the invention can be simplified.

[0020] The invention also relates to a program for setting up a connection, during whose execution the above-mentioned method steps of the method according to the invention or its developments are executed. The above-mentioned technical effects thus also apply to this program.

[0021] In a further program, to which the invention relates, for a data processing system, the data processing system is made to output an interrogation with which an operator is requested to set up a request, directed to the data processing system, to set up a connection via a first transmission network or via a second transmission network. The request is made, for example, by means of a display unit or audibly. During the execution of the program according to the invention, the operator is provided with the possibility of deciding, before the connection set-up, whether the second transmission network is to be used Undesired disruption to the operator by a second connection setup can thus be avoided. On the other hand, the accessibility to the operator is increased.

[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 shows the set-up of a switching office,

[0024]FIG. 2 shows a dialog box for optionally accepting a call, and

[0025]FIGS. 3A and 3B show a flowchart for a method for optionally accepting a call.

[0026]FIG. 1 shows the set-up of a local switching office 10, such as is used, for example, in the telephone network 11 of TELEKOM AG. The switching office 10 contains a control and switching unit 12, which controls the connection set-up and connection release, and switches connections between voice channels in a switching matrix (not illustrated).

[0027] A connection module 14 of the switching office 10 is used to connect subscriber terminals, of which two terminals 16, 18 of the same subscriber TlnB are illustrated in FIG. 1. The terminal 16 is an ISDN telephone (Integrated Systems Digital Network). In another exemplary embodiment, a telephone which operates with analog technology is used. The terminal 18 is a workstation computer on which application programs are executed, for example an accounting program and a program for Internet telephone services. For example, the “Netmeeting” program from Microsoft GmbH is used for Internet telephone services. A voice unit 20 is connected to the computer 18 using a line 22. The voice unit 20 is, for example, a headset/microphone combination with which voice signals are input into the computer 18 and with which voice signals generated by the computer 18 can be made audible.

[0028] The telephone 16 and the computer 18 are connected to the connection module 14 via the same line 24. The abovementioned UADSL technology is used as the transmission technology. A lower frequency range is used as the transmission route 26 for the data to be transmitted from and to the telephone 16, the data being transmitted in said frequency range according to the PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) standard. A higher frequency range is used as the transmission route 28 for the transmission of data between the computer 18 and the connection module 14.

[0029] Dashed lines indicate signaling protocols between the telephone 16 and the switching office 10, and between the computer 18 and the switching office 10, respectively. The subscriber signaling protocol E-DSS1 (Euro-Digital Signaling System One) is used as the signaling protocols between the telephone 16 and the connection module 14. In the case of telephones with analog technology, signaling signals are generated by suitable circuits in the telephone, for example by pulse generators for the dialing pulses. Data is transmitted on the transmission route 28 according to the Internet Protocol IP. The UDP protocol (User Datagram Protocol) is used for the signaling.

[0030] The connection module 14 contains a frequency filter with which the data coming from the telephone 16 and from the computer 18 are separated. On the other hand, the data which is to be transmitted to the telephone 16 and to the computer 18, respectively, is combined in the connecting module 14, on the line 24.

[0031] The switching office 10 also contains a network access computer 32 which can be used to set up connections to the Internet 34. A network interworking computer 36 which is contained in the switching office 10 is an interface between the Internet 34 and the telephone network 11.

[0032] The control and switching unit 12 is connected via an internal bus for the switching office 10 to the connection module 14, the network access computer 32 and the network interworking computer 36, cf. connections 38, 40 and 42. Signaling data and useful data is transmitted via a connecting line 44 between the control and switching unit 12 and an adjacent switching office (not illustrated). The signaling protocol No. 7 according to the CCITT standard (Comite Consultatif International Télégraphique et Téléphonique) is used as the signaling protocol on this line. The connection module 14 is connected to the network access computer 32 via a connection 46. The network access computer 32 and the network interworking computer 36 are connected to the Internet 34 via connecting lines 48 and 50, respectively. Dashed lines along the connections 38 to 42, the connecting line 44, the connection 46 and the lines 48, 50 indicate signaling. Unbroken lines show the transfer of useful data. All the transmission routes operate bidirectionally, i.e. both the signaling data and the useful data are transmitted in both directions.

[0033] The control and switching unit 12 sets up a connection, in a switched position I, in the telephone network 11 to the telephone 16. Here, the line 24, the connection module 14, the connection 38 and the connecting line 44 are used to transmit the voice data. In a switched position II, the control and switching unit 12 switches a connection between a terminal in the telephone network and the computer 18. The computer 18, the transmission route 28, the connection module 14, the connection 46, a connection 52 in the network access computer 32, the line 48, the Internet 34, the line 50, the network interworking computer 36, a connection 54 in the control and switching unit 12 and the connecting line 44 are used for the connection.

[0034] The selection of the switched position I or II is explained below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B. With respect to the individual details of the signaling operations during the setting up of a connection by means of the switched position I or II, reference is made to the abovementioned signaling protocols.

[0035]FIG. 2 shows a dialog box 100, which is displayed on a display unit of the computer 18 before a connection is set up to the subscriber TlnB. The dialog box 100 contains a title bar 102, a minimize box 104, a closing box 106, text lines 108, 110 and 112 and buttons 114, 116 and 118.

[0036] The title bar 102 contains an indication of the switching office 10 used and of the feature to which the dialog box 100 relates, namely “EWSD—optional call acceptance” (electronically controlled digital dialing system from SIEMENS AG). The minimize box 104 causes the dialog box 108 to be represented in minimized form at the lower edge of the screen when it is clicked on with a computer mouse. The closing box 106 is used to close the dialog box 100. The text line 108 indicates to the reader, for example the subscriber TlnB, that he is being called by another subscriber TlnA (not illustrated) via the telephone network. The call number of the calling subscriber TlnA, here the call number “+43-1707-24844”, is represented in the text line 110. The text represented in the text line 112 is an enquiry as to what will be done as the next step. If the subscriber TlnB actuates the button 114, the incoming call is received via the Internet 34, cf. FIG. 1. On the other hand, if the subscriber TlnB actuates the button 116, the incoming call is set up via the telephone network 11, i.e. the telephone 16 is used. The button 118 is actuated by the subscriber TlnB if he wishes to reject the incoming call.

[0037]FIGS. 3A and 3B show a flowchart with method steps for a method for optionally accepting a call via the Internet 34 or via the telephone network 11, cf. FIG. 1. The method begins at a method step 150. In a following method step 152, the subscriber TlnB sets up an Internet connection to the network access computer 32. An Internet address IP-ADR at which the subscriber TlnB can be reached on the Internet 34 is stored in the network access computer 32.

[0038] This Internet address IP-ADR is to be given, for example, if an electronic mail is sent to the subscriber TlnB. The Internet address IP-ADR is also to be given in the case of a telephone connection via the Internet.

[0039] The Internet address IP-ADR is signaled by the network access computer 32 to the control and switching unit 12 via the connection 40. When the “optional call acceptance” feature is installed, it is indicated that the call number of the subscriber TlnB and the Internet address IP-ADR of this subscriber TlnB are to be used for the feature. The call number and the Internet address of the subscriber TlnB remain stored in the control and switching unit 12.

[0040] In a method step 154, a call request is signaled from an adjacent switching office via the connecting line 44. The call number of the subscriber TlnB is specified in the request as the destination call number. The incoming call is also referred to as first call below.

[0041] In a method step 156, the control unit 12 checks whether the subscriber TlnB specified in the request has installed the “optional call acceptance” service feature. In order to install it, the method ISCI (Internet Subscriber Controlled Input), for example, was used. If the subscriber TlnB has not installed the “optional call acceptance” service feature, the control and switching unit 12 sets up a through-switched telephone connection to the telephone 16 by means of the switched position I, cf. method step 158. After the execution of the method step 158, the method is terminated, cf. the method step 178 explained below.

[0042] If, on the other hand, it is detected in method step 156 that the subscriber TlnB has installed the “optional call acceptance” service feature, the method step 156 is directly followed by a method step 160. In the method step 160, the displaying of the dialog box 100, cf. FIG. 2, on a display unit of the computer 18 is brought about. The control and switching unit 12 signals to the network access computer 32 via the connection 40 that the dialog box 100 is to be displayed. The network access computer 32 brings about the displaying of the dialog box 100 on the display unit of the computer 18 using the above-mentioned protocol UDP. Here, the call number of the calling A subscriber TlnA is also sent to the network access computer 32 by the control and switching unit 12. This call number is contained in the request to be processed. The call number is transmitted to the computer 18 by the network access computer 32 via the connection 46 and the transmission route, and displayed on the line 110 of the dialog box 100.

[0043] In a following method step 162, the subscriber TlnB makes a selection and actuates one of the buttons 114 to 118. The selection of the subscriber TlnB is signaled by the computer 18, via, inter alia, the connection 46, to the network access computer 32 and from there to the control and switching unit 12 via the connection 40. The protocol UDP is used on the line 24 for this. If the subscriber TlnB actuates the button 118, the method is terminated without accepting the call, cf. method step 178. If, on the other hand, the button 114 is actuated, the method step 162 is directly followed by a method step 164.

[0044] In the method step 164, the button 114 is disabled so that it can no longer be actuated for the time being. The disabling is indicated on the display of the dialog box 100 by a certain gray color of the button 114.

[0045] After the method step 164, the setting up of a voice connection via the Internet is brought about by the control and switching unit 12 in a method step 166. The Internet address IP-ADR which is associated with the call number of the subscriber TlnB is specified as the connection destination. It is signaled to the network interworking unit 36, via the connection 42, that a connection is to be switched between the telephone network 11 and the Internet 34. After it has been determined that the network interworking unit 36 still has free resources, the connection is switched to the network interworking unit 36 by means of the switched position II. In the network interworking unit 36, the voice data which is transmitted in the voice channels is divided up into data packets and passed on to the Internet 34 in accordance with Internet protocol. The packeted voice data then passes from the Internet 34 to the network access computer 32 because the Internet address IP-ADR of the subscriber TlnB was specified as the connection destination before the setting up of the connection in the Internet. The network access computer 32 passes the packeted voice data on to the computer 18 via the connection 52. In the computer 18, the voice data is output using the voice unit 20. The voice of the subscriber TlnB passes in the opposite direction via the voice unit 20, the computer 18, etc. to the network interworking unit 36 and from there to the remote subscriber TlnA (not illustrated) in the telephone network 11.

[0046] In a method step 168, a further request for a second incoming call, which contains the call number of the subscriber TlnB, is received on the connecting line 44. In a following method step 170, the displaying of the dialog box 100 is brought about on the display unit of the computer 18, as already explained above for the method step 160.

[0047] The subscriber TlnB can now only actuate the button 116 or 118. The call number of the second calling subscriber is indicated on the text line 110. If the subscriber TlnB decides to reject the second call, he activates the button 118 in a method step 172. The method is terminated, cf. method step 178. If, on the other hand, the subscriber TlnB actuates the button 116 in the method step 172, a method step 174 follows directly after.

[0048] In the method step 174, the control and switching unit 12 causes, with the involvement of the network access computer 32, the button 116 also to be disabled and displayed in gray the next time the dialog box 100 is displayed.

[0049] Owing to the selection of the subscriber TlnB in the method step 172, a telephone connection is set up for the second incoming call in a method step 176. This connection is switched to the telephone 16 via the switched position I.

[0050] In a following method step 178, the method is terminated. After the release of the connection which has come about owing to the first call, the button 114 is enabled again. Likewise, after the release of the connection brought about by the second call, the button 116 is enabled again. The subscriber TlnB therefore has the possibility, in the case of further incoming calls, to set up a voice connection via the Internet 34 or via the telephone network 11.

[0051] However, if the subscriber TlnB decides, in the method step 162, to actuate the button 116, the method step 162 is followed directly by a method step 180 in which the button 116 is disabled. The method step 180 is followed by a method step 182.

[0052] In the method step 182, a telephone connection is first switched via the telephone network 11. This means that the connection to the telephone 16 is set up by means of the switched position I.

[0053] If the second incoming call arrives at the switching office 10 in the method step 168, the dialog box 100 is displayed in a method step 184. The button 116 is disabled here. If the subscriber TlnB presses, in a method step 186, the right-hand button, i.e. the button 118, the method is terminated, cf. method step 178. The second incoming call is therefore not accepted.

[0054] If, on the other hand, the subscriber TlnB actuates the button 114 in the method step 186, this button is deactivated in a directly following method step 188 if no more than one voice connection is to be set up to the subscriber TlnB via the Internet 34. In a following method step 190, the setting up of a voice connection via the Internet 34 is brought about. A connection is set up to the computer 18 by means of the switched position II here. 

1. A method for setting up a connection, in which a switching device (10) switches between subscribers (TlnA, TlnB) data, transmitted in a first transmission network (11) according to a first transmission method, a first terminal (16) is connected to the switching device (10) via a connection route (24), and in which a second terminal (18), by means of which data is transmitted in a second data transmission network (34) according to a second transmission method which differs from the first transmission method, is connected via the same connection route (24), characterized in that, during the processing of a request for the setting up of a connection to the first terminal (16), a control unit (12) of the switching device (10) determines a connection destination (IP-ADR) via which the second terminal (18) can be reached in the second transmission network (34), and in that, during the processing of the request, a connection is set up to the second terminal (18) using the connection destination (IP-ADR).
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, using the connection to the second terminal (18), an enquiry (100) is made as to whether a connection is to be set up and/or via which transmission network (11, 34) a connection is to be set up.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, using the connection to the second terminal (18), a connection is set up to a terminal which has generated the request.
 4. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (12) firstly checks whether a condition for the involvement of the second terminal (18) is fulfilled, and in that the connection to the second terminal (18) is set up only if the condition is fulfilled.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one of the transmission networks (11) is a through-switching transmission network for voice transmission and in that the other transmission network (34) is a transmission network in which data is transmitted in data packets.
 6. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that data is transmitted over the connection route (24) in broadband fashion, in particular using an xDSL technology.
 7. A switching device (10) for optionally setting up a connection, with a first connection unit for connecting a first transmission network (11) in which data is transmitted according to a first transmission method, a second connection unit (14) for connecting a connection route (24) for a first terminal (16), and having a control unit (12) for processing requests for the setting up of a connection to the first terminal (18), characterized in that, during the processing of a request, the control unit (12) determines a connection destination (IP-ADR) via which a second terminal (18), which is connected via the connection route (24) and which transmits data in a second transmission network (34) according to a second transmission method which differs from the first transmission method, can be reached, and in that, during the processing of the request, a connection is set up to the second terminal (18) using the connection destination (IP-ADR).
 8. The switching device (10) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the second connection unit (14) is also used to connect the second terminal (18) which can be reached at the connection destination (IP-ADR) which is determined.
 9. The switching device (10) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized by a network interworking unit (36) which connects the first transmission network (11) and the second transmission network (34).
 10. The switching device (10) as claimed in one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by a network access unit (32) for the access by the second terminal (18) to the second transmission network (34).
 11. The switching device (10) as claimed in one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the second connection unit (14) operates according to a method in which data is transmitted in broadband fashion, in particular over a copper double conductor.
 12. A program for setting up a connection, having an instruction sequence which can be executed by the processor of a switching device (10) in a first transmission network (11), characterized in that, when the instruction sequence is executed, the switching device (10) is made to execute the method steps mentioned in one of claims 1 to
 6. 13. A program for the optional setting up of a connection, having an instruction sequence which can be executed by the processor of a data processing system (18), characterized in that, during the execution of the instruction sequence, the data processing system (18) is made to output an interrogation (100) with which an operator (TlnB) is requested to set up a connection via a first transmission network (11) or via a second transmission network (34). 